title: Potential of Snoezelen room multisensory stimulation to improve balance in individuals with dementia: a feasibility randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the influence of multisensory stimulations in a Snoezelen room on the balance of individuals with dementia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canadian long-term care home.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four residents (average age 86 years), in a long-term care home diagnosed with dementia, were assigned randomly to intervention and control groups. Nineteen participants completed the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine intervention group participants completed 30-minute Snoezelen room sessions twice a week for six weeks. Sessions were guided by participants' preferences for stimulation. Interactions with tactile, visual and proprioceptive sensations were encouraged. Ten control group participants received an equal amount of volunteer visits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Functional Reach Test, the eyes-open Sharpened Romberg and the Timed Up and Go Test with and without dual task, assessed static and dynamic balance at baseline and after the intervention. Falls frequencies were recorded six weeks before, during and after intervention. A journal was kept of observations in Snoezelen room.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Split-plot MANOVA analyses revealed no significant effects of unstructured Snoezelen room sessions on participants' balance. There were no multivariate effects of time (F(4,14) = 1.13, P = 0.38) or group (F(4,14) = 0.63, P = 0.65). Group membership did not alter falls frequency. However, observations of participants' interactions with elements of the Snoezelen room, such as imagery-induced head and eye movements, vibrating sensations and kicking activities, captured events that can be used to create specific multisensory balance-enhancing stimulations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the null hypothesis was not rejected, further investigation of a potential to influence balance in individuals with dementia through Snoezelen room intervention in long-term care homes is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Elborn College, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. kklages5@gmail.com
authors.forename: Kelsey
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Klages
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zecevic
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Orange
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hobson
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003704:Dementia / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004779:Environment Design; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012678:Sensation Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026421:Sensory Art Therapies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome